Protection and Promotion of Human Rights
Mr. Henri Tiphagne, the executive director of Peoples Watch, and board member of the National Human Rights Commission of India, along with his colleague Mr. Subroto, presented an extremely powerful first session on Human Rights. He started off with saying that Human Rights does not belong in courts of law or constitutional articles, but it is something that is personal to each human being. Human Rights is a basic need, and the three keywords for Human Rights are knowledge, skills and action.
He then screened a film – “I am Dalit, How are you?” It reflected the conditions of Dalits (Broken People) in India. It was a movie that the audience squirm in their seats, tear their hair out in anger, and feel terribly ashamed and surprised about Untouchabilty. The film awoke people’s consciences in various forms. This, said Mr. Henri, was what he wanted, because Human Rights is all about the passion to see things put right. It is this anger that caused the United Nations to recognise caste discrimination as a blatant violation of Human Rights. Therefore anger and passion are also the hope for the future, and Human Rights needs people who are willing to pay the price to get it.
There was a slide presentation about the Principles of Human Rights. It made it clear to all of us that human rights are
o Inherent to all beings without any distinction, legally guaranteed by human rights law
o Place an obligation on governments to act in some ways and prohibit other ways
o Inherent entitlements based on the respect and dignity of human beings
o Universal, inalienable, indivisible, interrelated and interdependent.
First, Second and Third Generation Rights
Ist – Civil and Political rights
2nd – Social, Economic and Cultural rights
3rd – Solidarity rights, which include right to peace, to a clean environment, to the equal enjoyment of the common heritage of mankind.
4th – Right to self-determination
5th – Right to development (right to development as a collective as well as an individual right – individuals regarded as primary subjects of development).
Discussion on Nandigram - ‘human rights is also linked with politics, they go together’ ‘Human Rights are universal. Speak strongly. Keep the politics out. Speak consistently and speak collectively.’
Humanitarian Law
- Also referred as law of armed conflict or the ‘law of war’.
- Intended to limit human sufferings in times of armed conflict.
- Seeks to protect persons who are not, or are no longer, taking apart in the hostilities and to restrict method and means of warfare.
Even during a conflict, humanitarian law should be followed.
A short musical video ‘America America, American war paar da…’ was shown to the participants. The hypocrisy that exists in the U.S war on terror was highlighted through catchy lyrics and hard-hitting visuals.
‘So free Iam dying to see
Disneyland and…’
Human Rights in India encompasses four words – Right to Life, Right to Equality, Right to Liberty, Right to Dignity. This is also the core of the United Nations declaration as well.
Tip: Listen to your conscience and then respond appropriately.
Spotlight
Bal Kumari Ghimire is from Nepal. She has been in the area of social work for the last 9 years. Speaking about the entire experience here, she says it is ‘nice and gives me an opportunity to learn. It teaches me skills – how to communicate…’ It also provides her an opportunity to make friends. According to her, all the sessions were very nice. She dreams of becoming a woman leader in the area of social work in Nepal. She loves reading, music and singing. She hates discrimination and people who hate each other.
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